The Washington Commanders officially introduced Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator on Tuesday, and he wasted no time diving into what lies ahead for the unit he’s inheriting. Over the course of a 30-minute press conference, Jones touched on everything from his personal ties to the DMV area to the players he’s eager to coach-and his comments offered some early insight into how he might shape this defense.
One of the first names out of Jones’ mouth? Linebacker Frankie Luvu.
“Love Frankie Luvu. Watched him on tape,” Jones said.
“He's a guy that, before I even got here, we would watch and put on a tape in our meeting room. I love his athleticism.
He's best going downhill, getting the matchup on running backs-that's always a key.”
That’s a strong endorsement for a player coming off a down year in 2025. But it also suggests that Jones sees a specific role for Luvu-one that leans into his strengths as a downhill attacker who can disrupt plays in the backfield and create mismatches against running backs. If Luvu is featured more prominently in 2026, it’ll be because Jones is building around that aggressive, attacking style.
Jones didn’t stop there. He rattled off a list of other defenders he’s excited about: Mike Sainristil, Trey Amos, Quan Martin, Javon Kinlaw, Will Harris, Kain Medrano, and Tyler Owens. That’s a mix of young talent and depth pieces, and it shows Jones is doing his homework across the roster.
But here’s where things get interesting-because two big names were noticeably absent from that list: linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Now, Wagner’s omission makes some sense. He’s not currently under contract for 2026, and at 36 years old next season, his future in Washington is uncertain. Jones may simply be focusing on players he knows will be part of the foundation moving forward.
But Payne? That’s a little harder to explain.
Payne is still under contract for one more season, and he carries the highest cap hit on the team for 2026. At 28, he’s still in his physical prime.
And while his production last year didn’t quite match the size of that contract, Payne remains one of the most physically imposing interior linemen on the roster. Opposing coaches still view the Payne-Kinlaw tandem as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise struggling defense.
So why no mention?
It’s possible Jones simply overlooked Payne during the press conference. These things happen.
But it’s also possible that Payne’s future in Washington is far from settled. There’s been plenty of chatter about whether the Commanders might look to move on-via trade, release, or letting him play out the final year of his deal.
Any of those options would carry significant implications, both financially and in terms of roster construction.
Meanwhile, the fact that Jones did mention Kain Medrano-a sixth-round rookie from 2025 who didn’t take a single defensive snap last season-only adds to the intrigue. It suggests Jones is looking ahead, evaluating potential, and possibly thinking about reshaping the core of his defense with fresh legs and upside.
Free agency opens in exactly one month, and that’s when we’ll likely get some answers. Until then, Payne’s status remains one of the biggest questions surrounding this defense. But if Tuesday’s press conference was any indication, Daronte Jones already has a vision-and he’s not wasting time getting to work.